Stat "checks"

[gothtaku]

I was thumbing through Complete Scoundrel and came across a magic item called Wheel of Fortune. Based on a d8 roll, it gives you some random effects, the most common being +2 to a stat and skills based around that stat.

The exact wording is, for example:

"+2 luck bonus on CHA checks and CHA based skill checks"

What would constitute a CHA check, aside from skills that use Charisma? Do I treat that like an extra +2 to my charisma score, for example?

 

[Merkuri]

In most cases you will only use an ability check in the place of an untrained skill, but sometimes the rules call specifically for an ability check, usually to deal with a creature ability. The DM can also sometimes call for an ability check if there doesn't seem to be an appropriate skill that represents what a PC is trying to do.

You do not treat this as a +2 to that ability. For example, a cleric's turning ability would not be affected by the above-mentioned +2 luck bonus to Cha checks. If that were the case they'd just say, "+2 to your Cha modifier" or "+4 to Cha".

 

[the Jester]

For example, a cleric's turning ability would not be affected by the above-mentioned +2 luck bonus to Cha checks.

Why not?

Turning undead is a supernatural ability that a character can perform as a standard action... The first thing you do is roll a turning check to see how powerful an undead creature you can turn. This is a Charisma check (1d20 + your Charisma modifier).

If that were the case they'd just say, "+2 to your Cha modifier" or "+4 to Cha".

They say "+2 luck bonus to Charisma checks"- I don't see how this wouldn't apply to a turning check. The reason they don't say "+2 to your Cha modifier" or "+4 to Cha" is because those would be different effects. If you simply bumped your Cha modifier by +2, it would increase things like your Leadership score. If it increased your Cha by +4, it would help you meet prerequisites (arguably, anyhow), it would increase your spells/day (if you are a Cha-based caster), etc.

 

[javcs]

I believe that Merkuri was saying that it would not affect Turning Attempts Per Day, which it doesn't.